New Zealand Journal of Zoology abstracts
Mosquito density, macroinvertebrate diversity, and water chemistry
in water-filled containers: relationships to land use
P. T. Leisnham1
D. P. Slaney1,2
P. J. Lester3
P. Weinstein1,4
A. C. G. Heath5
1Ecology and Health Research Centre
Department of Public Health
Wellington School of Medicine
University of Otago
PO Box 7343
Wellington South 6242, New Zealand
2Institute of Environmental Science and Research Limited
PO Box 50348
Porirua 5240, New Zealand
3School of Biological Sciences
Victoria University of Wellington
PO Box 600
Wellington 6140, New Zealand
4School of Population Health
University of Western Australia
Crawley WA
Australia
5AgResearch
Wallaceville
PO Box 40063
Upper Hutt 5140, New Zealand
Abstract The proliferation of
disease-vector mosquitoes has
been attributed to the effects of land-use change. We investigated the
relationship between land use, macroinvertebrate communities, and water
chemistry in water-filled containers in native forest, pasture land,
and urban land at two locations (Waikanae and Paraparaumu) in the
Kapiti region, New Zealand. Larvae of the endemic Culex pervigilans
and exotic Aedes notoscriptus constituted 45.0% and 55.0%
of all late-instar mosquito species collected. At Waikanae, fourth
instar A. notoscriptus, pupal, and total mosquito densities
were higher in native forest than in urban land and pasture land, and
pupal density was higher in native forest than in pasture land. At
Paraparaumu, fourth instar A. notoscriptus and pupal densities
were higher in native forest and urban land than in pasture land.
Macroinvertebrate communities in human-modified land uses were
dominated by two herbivorous chironomid species, consisted of fewer
species, higher densities, and different composition than in native
forest. Water chemistry was also associated with land use, with
nitrate, nitrite, and acidity higher in native forest at both
locations. Fourth instar A. notoscriptus, pupal, and total
mosquito densities were negatively associated with non-culicid
invertebrate density. Fourth instar A. notoscriptus density
was also negatively associated with pH. Fourth instar C.
pervigilans density was not significantly related to any water
chemistry variables. These results indicate that land-use change may
not necessarily lead to higher densities of mosquitoes in larval
habitats by altering the associated macroinvertebrate community.
Keywords biodiversity; land use;
mosquito;
macroinvertebrate; water chemistry
Z07017; Online publication date 1 August 2007; Received 26 April
2007; accepted 18 July 2007
New Zealand Journal of Zoology, 2007, Vol. 34: 203–218
0301–4223/07/3403–0203 © The Royal Society of New Zealand 2007
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